The Book List from Historical Travelogues to the Present

Sino Turkish
30 April 2025

In a recently held event titled “On China: Observations and Proverbs”, enlightening talks were given on Chinese culture, along with book recommendations focused on Turkish travelers who had written about China in various historical periods. The works recommended during the event serve as a guide for those who wish to understand China both historically and culturally.

Including the books suggested in this event, we present to you a carefully curated reading list:

📚 Recommended Books on China

1. Gıyaseddin Nakkaş – Hıtay Sefaretnamesi
(2013, Edited by: Betül Mutlu, Turkish Historical Society)
→ The observations of Gıyaseddin Nakkaş, who was sent as an envoy to China in the 15th century, shed light on court life in Ming China.

2. Betül Mutlu – 15. Yüzyılda Hıtay’da Bir Timurlu Sefir
(2011, Folklor/Edebiyat)
→ An academic article examining Gıyaseddin Nakkaş’s impressions of China in detail.
Source: https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/pub/fe/issue/26031/274173

3. Lin Yih-Min – Ali Ekber’in Hıtaynâme Adlı Eserinin Çin Kaynakları ile Mukayesesi
(1967, Taipei)
→ A comparative analysis of the Hıtaynâme with Chinese sources.
Source: https://www.scribd.com/doc/205636972/Ali-Ekberin-Hitayname-adl%C4%B1-eserin-cin-kaynaklar%C4%B1-ile-mukayese-ve-tenkidi

4. Muhaddere Nabi Özerdim – Acaib-Ül-Letaif Hıtay Sefaretnamesi İle Çin Kaynakları Arasında İlgi
(1950, Ankara University)
→ A study on the connections between Ottoman travelogues and Chinese sources.
Source: https://dergipark.org.tr/en/pub/dtcfdergisi/issue/66714/1043491

5. Ali Ekber Hıtaî – Hıtaynâme
(2021, Edited by: Celal Aslan, İKSAD Publishing House)
→ A classic work narrating an imaginary journey to China.

6. Ali Ekber Hıtaî – Hıtâynâme Kanûnnâme-i Hıtâ, Hoten, Çin ü Maçîn
(2022, Edited by: Deniz Erçavuş & Şeyda Arısoy, Timaş Akademi)
→ A modern and expanded edition of the Hıtaynâme.

7. Süleyman Şükrü – Seyahatü’l Kübra Armağan-ı Süleymanî Be-Bargâh-ı Sultanî
(2013, Edited by: H. Mert, Turkish Historical Society)
→ One of the rare works reflecting the Ottoman perception of travel to China.

**8. Ceylan, Fatma Ecem (2023). Comparison of Ottoman Empire and Qing Dynasty through Süleyman Şükrü’s Seyahatü’l Kübra and Kang Youwei’s Turk Travelogue. Current Research in Social Sciences, 9(1), 92–112.
→ Analyzes cultural similarities and differences between the Ottoman and Qing Empires through comparative travelogues.
Source: https://dergipark.org.tr/en/download/article-file/3019277

9. Abdürreşid İbrahim – Âlem-i İslâm ve Japonya’da İslamiyet’in Yayılması
(2019, İşaret Publishing)
→ Observations from travels in Asia, including insights into China and the spread of Islam in Japan.

10. Muhaddere Nabi Özerdim – Eski Çin’den Notlar
(1987, Ayyıldız Press)
→ Notes on pre-revolutionary Chinese society.

11. Seriye Sezen – Bir Türk Sinologun Gözünden Devrim Öncesinin Çin’i
(2011, Ankara University)
→ A detailed analysis of the book Eski Çin’den Notlar.
Source: https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/pub/dtcfdergisi/issue/66782/1044295

12. Ahmet Bican Ercilasun – Moğolistan ve Çin Günlüğü
(2021, Bilge Kültür Sanat)
→ Travel notes from journeys through Mongolia and China.

13. Giray Fidan – Kanuni Devrinde Çin’de Osmanlı Tüfeği ve Osmanlılar
(2011, Yeditepe Publishing)
→ A study on the transfer of Ottoman firearms and technology to China during the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent.

14. Barış Adıbelli – Osmanlı’dan Günümüze Türk-Çin İlişkileri
(2016, IQ Kültür Sanat Publishing)
→ An overview of Turkish-Chinese relations from the Ottoman period to the present day.

15. Doç. Dr. Fatma Ecem Ceylan – 15. ve 16. Yüzyıllarda Türk Seyyahların Gözünden Çin
(2023, Fenomen Publishing)
→ A comprehensive study of how 15th–16th century Turkish travelers depicted China.